Kota Bharu is the state capital of Kelantan.The name means ‘new city’ or ‘new castle/fort’ in Bahasa Malaysia. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia. In 2005, it had an estimated population of 425,294, making it the largest town on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.It’s known for its colourful markets and the muslim culture.

Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands is a highland region located about 20 km east of Ipoh and about 150 km north of Kuala Lumpur in Pahang, Malaysia. At 5,000 ft (1,500 m) above sea level it is the highest area on the mainland, and enjoys a cool climate, with temperatures no higher than 25C and rarely falling below 12C year round. The area is popular for it’s tea plantations and jungle walks.

Chinatown (Kampung China)

KT's Chinatown is located along Jalan Bandar. It is small but charming with colorful shophouses and still has the traditional feel with small stores, cafes and restaurants

KT's Chinatown is located along Jalan Bandar (formerly known as Jalan Kampung Cina) at the river mouth of Terengganu River that empties into the South China Sea. If you overnight at the hotel / hostel in town and wish to pay the islands a visit, it is convenient and easy as the boats depart from the jetty next to Chinatown to the islands. The town is small but charming with colorful shophouses along both sides of the road that carries traditional flavor. Small grocery shops, a morning market, butcher shops, hardware shops, kopitiams (literally means coffee shops), cafes, restaurants and so on can be found in this humble little town. The kopitiams, cafes and restaurants offer local delicacies from mostly Chinese, but also Malay and Indian food. Start your day in town with an empty stomach and you will be sure to be satisfied with the food at the end of the day.

Chinatown (Kampung China) Gallery:

Many walls and alleyways have been transformed with street art recently giving plenty of photo opportunities

indulge Bak Kut Teh at the popular Town City Foodcourt
Bak Kut Teh literally translates “meat bone tea”. Bak Kut refers to the pork and pork ribs used for the dish, and Teh refers to the tea that usually served alongside with the dish.

view along Jalan Kampung Cina with a shop on the right selling items for Chinese / Buddhist rituals like joss sticks, paper money and altars

Chinese shophouses with five-foot covered walkway built with 2 types of material: the older ones with wood (in the middle) and the newer ones with brick

the back road (running parallel to Jalan Kampung Cina) offers idyllic scenery
The houses on the left are the back of the houses that are facing the main road in Chinatown (Jalan Bandar). Chinese shophouses are narrow but long.

view from the hanging bridge to Pulau Warisan towards Chinatown
The area had been reclaimed from Sungai Terengganu (Terengganu River) between 2009-11. Before that, most of the traditional shophouses were cantilevered above the river.

reclamation works in 2010 to create a new road, parking and the yet unused island of Pulau Warisan between Chinatown and the River

the same view 2 years later (2012)

shophouses extending into the river (image from the year 2009) before the extentions had to be torn down to make way for the land reclamation

Related Places

Turtle Alley (Lorong Penyu)

Narrow lane in Chinatown (Kampung Cina) that has been beautified and themed witn art works about turtle to remind us of the endangered status of turtles that nest at the beaches of Terengganu

Pasar Besar Kedai Payang (Central Market)

The colourful wet and dry market of KT is right next to Chinatown and along the Terengganu River. At the entrance are still traditional trishaws taking costumers back to their home.